Renfrewshire Council

What adoption is

What adoption is, what Renfrewshire Council can offer you, basic requirements to become an adopter.

What adoption is

In Renfrewshire, we believe all children should reach their full potential. For some, this means joining new families who can give them the love, care and security their birth family are unable to provide.

Adoption is the legal process in which all the rights and responsibilities relating to a child are transferred to the adoptive parents.

"When we first adopted 'our' children, they were adopted children; it wasn't too long before they were just 'our' children." - Karen and Michael, adoptive parents.


What Renfrewshire Council can offer you

Our adoption team has a wealth of experience behind them and we offer a responsive service to those who contact us.

Our team is dedicated to ensuring the needs of children are at the centre of our work. We aim to provide high-quality and stable permanent care to ensure positive outcomes.


Basic requirements to become an adopter

To become an adopter you: 

  • need to be over 21
  • need to have a spare room
  • need to be in good health
  • can be unemployed
  • can be single, married, cohabiting, or in a civil partnership
  • can own or rent your property
  • can be of any religious background or cultural background
  • can already be a parent or have no parenting experience

Having a commitment to children, flexible thinking, energy, patience, maturity, an ability to manage stress, problem solving skills and a good support network will all assist you to support a child's transition through sometimes difficult periods of their life.